USA-Lakeland Press Release - Bobby Gill's winning streak

May 28, 2002


Lakeland, FL – Bobby Gill has not only dominated the 2002 USAR Hooters
ProCup Series Southern season but the Victory Circle located on the front
straight of USA International Speedway’s ¾ mile oval as well.  Six straight
wins have set a new record for consecutive wins in a single USAR season and
reaching back to the 2001 season conclusion it is a total of seven
consecutive ProCup victories for Gill.  The 3 time ProCup champion has also
swept the win in every ProCup race at the Lakeland track since the beginning
of 2001.

A Sarasota native; who now divides his time between home in Dalton, Georgia
and the race shop near Charlotte, North Carolina; Bobby has traveled the
hard road to success in racing.  Wife, Elaine, runs the family restaurant
business in Georgia and tends to their nearly one-year-old son, Robby Lane.
“I’ve been up here more this year than last and I’ve gone home a couple of
times because he about forgot who I was,” quips Gill who has proudly held
his young son in Victory Lane most times this year.  At 44, Gill’s confident
style reflects an attitude that emphasizes his driving and mechanical
ability foremost.  It’s this focus of attention to his car and team which
most times leaves Bobby with little to say outside his family or the inner
circle of his racing operation.  Bobby prefers to let his steering wheel do
the talking.

Growing up while watching and helping his father, Billy Gill, compete on the
bullrings of Florida, Bobby observed closely and spent many hours helping in
the garage which provided an education as well as the foundation to build
his career.   Early in life Bobby worked as a plumber and then a diesel
mechanic before finally making a full time career of being a racecar driver.
Gill’s experience before the ProCup Series was primarily in the Late Model
type cars and throughout the success of 3 ProCup championships it has still
been a long learning curve.  When asked about the ProCup and USA streaks,
Bobby points out “2000 was not to good – we were beat every time there
(USA).  The more we run the more we learn and learning about these cars has
helped.”  Stepping up the efforts for 2002 included testing a lot more than
what had been the norm and it is what was learned over the winter that has
helped make a difference this year as Bobby further explained.

Has this run of luck been stretched to it’s limit and can the streak
continue?  Bobby responds with what has become a typical demeanor, causal
but matter of factually, “We go to win but if we run second – we run second.
It’s not a bad deal for us.  With the point championship races the way it
is, we could win all 14 (Southern Division races) and still lose the
championship.”  Although his primary concern is about his car, crew and
preparation; Gill places Steve Christian, Hal Goodson, Shane Huffman, Jason
Sarvis and Michael Ritch on the short list of those who could bring the
streak to a stop.

Does the Ford have a decided advantage over the other makes?  “Ford is not
really dominate.  Just my Ford.  Dorton builds engines for me and for Sarvis
and if I wasn’t in the picture he would have 2 wins” reasons Gill.  The
argument seems to have some validity when it is considered that Sarvis and
Goodson in Chevrolets have finished second twice this season and Huffman and
Christian in Fords have a second place finish each.

250 laps around the ¾ mile Lakeland oval this Saturday will determine if
Bobby Gill will extend his winning streak or a new name is added to the
winners list for 2002.  Qualifying gets underway at 5 PM and the start of
the Jackaroo Sauces 250 presented by Discount Auto Parts is at 7:30.